Abstract:
The RETScreen International Renewable Energy Project Analysis Software is a unique decision support tool developed with the contribution of numerous experts from government, industry, and academia. The software, provided free-of-charge, can be used world-wide to evaluate the energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emission reductions for various types of renewable energy ... technologies (RETs). The software also includes product, cost and weather databases; and a detailed online user manual.

Currently, the software can be used to evaluate the eight renewable energy technologies listed in the menu bar to the left. Upgrades to the existing models and the creation of new technology models are also under development, as described in the "forthcoming" menu bar item.

Each RETScreen renewable energy technology model (e.g. Wind Energy Project, etc.) is developed within an individual Microsoft Excel spreadsheet "Workbook" file. The Workbook file is in-turn composed of a series of worksheets. These worksheets have a common look and follow a standard approach for all technology models.

There are five key worksheets provided with each technology Workbook file. The first is the "Energy Model" worksheet which is used to calculate the annual energy production of the RET project being considered. The second is a sub-worksheet that is specific to the particular RET (e.g. "Equipment Data" worksheet). The third is the "Cost Analysis" worksheet which is used to calculate the total initial, annual and periodic project costs. The fourth is an optional Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Analysis ('GHG Analysis') worksheet used to estimate the greenhouse gases reduced by the proposed RET project. The final worksheet is the "Financial Summary" worksheet which is used to prepare the financial analysis for the RET. Numerous financial indicators are provided to help support decisions (e.g. internal rate of return, simple pay back, net present value, etc.). The results are then presented in a simple project cash flows graph for presentation to key decision-makers. The Financial Summary worksheet also allows the user to perform a tax analysis and a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) type analysis for the individual project.

Description:
The RETScreen International Renewable Energy Decision Support Centre seeks to promote the deployment of renewable energy systems by building the capacity of planners, decision-makers and industry to implement more projects successfully. The broad aim of the Centre's partners is to foster increased market uptake of renewable energy technologies (RETs) that reduce the reliance on conventional energy sources and which help to protect the global environment. The Centre builds upon the success of the RETScreen International Renewable Energy Project Analysis Software, which is now being used by more than 21,000 people in 185 countries around the globe and which is growing at 150 new users every week.

The Centre develops enabling tools that allow stakeholders to better analyse the technical and financial viability of possible projects. These tools make it easier for people to consider renewable energy projects at the critically important initial planning stage while significantly reducing the costs of assessing potential projects. Some of the enabling tools include renewable energy project analysis software models and manuals; international product and weather databases; project case studies; and university textbooks. Given the broad aim of the Centre's partners, the Centre provides these valuable enabling tools free-of-charge to users around the globe via the Internet and CD-ROM.

The Centre also transfers the knowledge created on a sponsorship or non-commercial cost-recovery basis via the delivery of distance learning courses, professional-training seminars and training-of-trainers workshops; and via an international network of certified RETScreen trainers.

Description:
This SSE data set is a synthesis of the World Climate Research Program/Surface Radiation Budget (WCRP/SRB) shortwave data set (Version 1.1), ISCCP-C1 (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) 3-hourly satellite data, and ISCCP-C2 monthly mean cloud fraction data. ISCCP provides global coverage of satellite data on an equal-area grid (6596 cells). Each cell represents an area equal to that of a 2.5 degree latitude/longitude cell at the equator (approximately 280 square km). Comparison with data from approximately 500 ground sites suggest that the satellite-derived values are generally within 10 percent of surface measured values for most regions of the world. However, there are two notable exceptions.

Description:
The RETScreen International Online User Manual is an integral part of the software. The online user manual is a help file directly linked to each RETScreen model Microsoft Excel Workbook file and is designed to facilitate use of the model as quickly and effectively as possible.

In addition to the RETScreen specific information for each cell in the software, the online user manual also provides background information for the 8 renewable energy technologies in the software, including photographs of typical projects, an overview of application markets and a description of RET systems, (also see e-Textbook).

The user automatically downloads the online user manual help file (Version 2000 and higher) while downloading the RETScreen software. The user can also download the "Manual in PDF Format" (Version 98) or view the "Manual on the Web" (Version 98).